Realtor · Hanover Twp, PA · Member since 2018 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
1y
@Jason Frink, here is a link that briefly discusses it. I'm assuming the family member and property are in Arkansas. Each state can be a little different so the details matter.
If you don’t have a Will, the default order of descent goes like this: (1) full blood and adopted children of the decedent, subject to any dower, curtesy, and homestead interest of a spouse; (2) if no full blood or adopted children, then everything to a spouse of greater than three years or half of everything plus dower, curtesy, and homestead to a spouse of less than three years and the other half of everything to other heirs (per this table); (3) to the decedent’s parents or surviving siblings; (4) to the decedent’s grandparents or surviving aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.; (5) to the decedent’s great-grandparents or surviving great aunts, great uncles, etc.; (6) if none of those intermediate descendents are alive the remaining half can go to the spouse of less than three years or to a predeceased spouse’s heirs; (7) finally, if none of these apply, all the property escheats to the county where the decedent died.